Our Side of the Mic

by Allynn Riggs

Ah, April. What is most important about April? Most of the Mainstream classes have graduated and we have many excited and eager dancers looking for places to dance. We encourage each and every one of you to welcome these dancers. Remember that they still need about 55 to 60 more hours of dancing before they are truly comfortable. Encourage them to get out dancing at least once a week (preferred by their dance teachers) and a minimum of twice a month. Call them, invite them to join you and then car pool with them to a dance. Get to know them. Laugh with them not at them – remember, you made and still make lots of mistakes or occasionally have trouble hearing. Encourage them to be among the first on the floor and to square up near the front.

Now is also the time to start planning for summer activities. Be sure to have the Colorado State Festival in Loveland on June 14-16, 2013 on every calendar. If you have not yet registered please do so. Mike Seastrom and Hunter Keller will be headlining with lots of regional callers offering their best as well. The headline cuers will be Steve and Lori Harris. Registration forms are available in each bulletin or online at www.freedomswings2013.com. The next event you should consider is the Oklahoma City National Convention, June 26-29, 2013. Check out their website, www.62nsdc.com, for registration forms as well. In August there is USA West Convention in Boise, Idaho. All three of these are within reasonable driving distance and can provide you with a variety of great dancing.

Another part of summer activities involve your club events, dance related or not these should be planned now – get them into the bulletin calendar so the newer or visiting dancers can connect with you. If your club has not planned that potluck and barn dance or camping trip or visit to some local historical venue, why not set it up right now? Take the initiative to get out dancing this summer.

Also, keep a list of friends, acquaintances, co-workers, etc. who express the slightest interest in the square dance activity. You should be collecting their names and contact information year-round. Let them know when and where classes are being held. Better yet, get their information to all the callers who are teaching. Encourage them to try it out – you know how much fun it is, so share it. Let this secret ‘out of the bag’.